News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-02-17
Early Days in Cambridge.
INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACTS

INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACTS.
This vicinity has a certain history
that may be interesting to your readers.
Nine of the original settlers, back IN
the last century, made homes that are
still under control of their lneal de-
ScendantS, viz: Reuben Armstrong,
Daniel Blaisdell, Reuben Brush, Beriah
Curtis, Jonathan Ellsworth, Ezra Mud
gett, William Mudgett, Capt. John SAT-
ford and William Walker. Two persons
still live among us born in 1895 and 1896
viz, Rhoda Mudgett and Mary Hubbell,
and are now the oldest residents of
Cambridge They have vivid recol-
lection of certain matters that occurred,
early in the present century, especially
the building of the Boro Westinghouse
in 1903, and the death of William Camp
bell by the falling of tree-On the farm
of Mr.. Payne-in the spring of 1905 :;
also the death of Merritt Campbell, in
1914. at the battle of . French Mills"
In this neighborhood, still remain, the
last beaver-dam, where John Spaf-
ford and Theodore Melvin, ST., destroyed
the family, on the g Pool-broOk near
the highway, now owned by Mr.. Chaun-
cev Warner or Addison FUllington.
John Spafford came into Cambridge
May s, 17S3, planted two acres of corn
upon the point opposite the residence OF
Rev. Edwin Wheelock; his crop was
mostly destroyed, the first year by high
water. Mr.. Spafford moved his family
from Piermont, n. H.. consisting of a
wife and two children. When they
moved into town, there was no road
west of HaZen'S road in CraftSbury.
They brought their provisions with
them, and when their meat failed, they
hunted the moose. The last moose of
which the present generation have any
knowledge, was killed by Bradstreet and
John SpaffOrd at the stream west of the
farm owned by E. O. Stafford, grandson
of the first representative of Cambridge,
David Stafford.
In 1854, Amos FaSsett, Stephen Kins-
ley, John Fassett, Jr., and Samuel Mon
tague, moved their families from Ben
ningtOn and Noah Chittenden his from
Arlington. Thirty-five persons spent
the second winter in town. David SAT-
ford and others, came in 1855. Capt.
John Stafford taught the first school in
town. Amos Fassett built the first saw
mill in 1854, near the Boro village.
The town was organized March %,
1855, and John Fassett was first town
clerk. Most of the first settlers were of
the strict Congregational persuasion,
and the church was organized at an early
day and meetings were attended in the
barn of Samuel Montague and the hall
of Abner Brush Esq. Rev. Elijah Wool
age was settled over the church in 1903
Truain was settled in 1910 and dismissed
in 1872. Returned = Independent 1888.
In that day the church was the
" body-politic " and the building was the
. Westinghouse" and was so known,
until other places of worship were built in
town. Great interest was felt through
out the town, in their Westinghouse !"
and the prOprietOrs from all parts of
Cambridge-and many from Fletcher
and WestfOrd-jOined together in build
ing the same. 1t is related that three
full days were spent at the raising"
and it has quite history, having out
lived nearly three generations. 1t is I'M
derStOOd that the grandSOnS of the Origi-
nal pillars " or proprietors" of the
church now contemplate moving the
building from the present location and
devOting the same to StOre-hOuSe, for
the use of merchandise and other world
lY interests. 1t seems hardly consistent,
considering the ancient value their an
ceStOrs placed upon it.
In 1905 Frederic Hopkins was town
representative and the General Assem-
bly, met at Danville. Montpelier was
made the State Capitol in 1908; but pre-
viOus to that date the Assembly was not
a fixture but met where it was most con-
venient. Ezra Mudgett brought apple
seed from Weare, n. H, and sowed the
first nursery ana set out the first orchard
in town. A portion of the Mudgett Or
chard is now standing, and may be seen
on the hill two miles north of the BOro
village. "Uncle Ezra ~ was a very ex-
centric man in his day. and many anec-
dOteS are remembered of his sharp say
ingS to the gentry who were so very
friendly and free, with their attentions,
about the season of early apples. His
reply to certain ladies who called upon
him with pals and baskets hung to the
horn of their Side-saddles, was a by
word over large section of the state.
The ladies rode up so very glad to see
Mr.. Mudgett, that it started his ire. and
he invited them into his house, and be-
ing a ready talker. entertained them
handsomely; but nary an apple did he
offer, and when they left for home made
the following sharp hit: $ When friends
come to visit Mudgett, he gives them
apples, but when they come to get ap-
pies, he gives them Mudgett." They
left with $ flea in their ear.'
Daniel Blaisdell came into town boy
IA years of age and helped drive stock
lIOul w Cdl63 N. H., 1Ol GIlo A1uClS6UlS,
coming through the woods via Peacham
stopping over night with Esq. McDan-
ielS. Mr.. BlaiSdell, settled in town, liv-
ing where R. VI. Blaisdell now resides.
and died in 1865, aged 80 years. His
wife lived with him 20 years and
raised a large family, two of which re-
main on the "old-hOmeStead." The old
frame house remains, chimney, oven.
| fireplace and hearth-stone, intact and
undisturbed, where the maiden sister OF
R. r. BlaiSdell still enthusiastically sc
years of age. Many relics of the olden
time remain in possession of the de-
scendantS of our ancestors, such being
= keepSakes," in remembrance of the
hardy pioneers who first came into this
section one hundred years ago. Settle
ment was commenced in Cambridge at
an earlier date than in Burlington, and
had greater population in 1871 than
the latter town, which included South
Burlington. In 1892 Cambridge was de-
tached from Chittenden County and
| Franklin County was organized, with
the shire town at st. Adams. Gen
John Wires of this town was high sher-
| if of the county many years during
the time the town was in Franklin Co
1t is understood that the centennial OF
| the first settlement in the shire town OF
LamOille County will be attended this
year 1887, and we bespeak for it good
| time. NJ.